Floating roof



Oct. 3l, 1933. C, BQARDMAN 1,932,394

FLOATlNG ROOF Filed Aug. 1s, 1932 s sheets-sheet 1 FLOATING ROOF FiledAug. 13, 1952 Sheets-Sheet 2 0d. 31, 1933. C BOARDMA 1,932,394

4 l FLOATING ROOFl Filed Aug. 13, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jig@ ' Z/UQWZOWPatented Oct. 31, 1933 PATENT OFFICE UNITED js'r..'rrssl FLoATmG RooFApplication August 13, 1932. seriaI'No. 623,152

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in floating roofs and moreespecially such roofs adapted for use in connection with liquidcontainers, for example, containers adapted to hold volatile oils andthe like. .f

In tanks of the .character referred to it' is customary to provide aroof that floats on the surface of the liquid and rises and fallstherewith as liquid is taken from or put into the tank.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of roofs of thischaracter that have increased buoyancy and stability over thoseheretofore used.

Another feature of my invention is'the provision of means for.collecting vapors'A and gases under the roof and preventing the unevendistribution of the same, thus increasing the stability of the roof andlesseningf or preventing tendencies of the Asame to chip.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear in full as Iproceed with my specification. e

In those forms of devices embodying the features of my invention shownin the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view; l

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the roof of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig.` 2 `showing a 30 llriodilcation taken as indicatedby the line 3 of Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the roof of Fig. 3taken as indicated by the line 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a -modiilcation' taken asindicated by the line 5 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of theroof of Fig.

5 taken as-indicated by the line 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 lis a view similar to Fig. 5 of a-modication taken as indicatedby the line 7 of Fig. 8 and Fig. 8 is a bottom` plan view of the roof ofFig. 'I taken as indicated by the'line 8 of Fig. 7. As shown '1n thedrawings, the invention is illustrated in each case for use inconnection'with a cylindrical tank.

. In the form shown inFigs. 1 and 2 the side wall or shell of the tankis indicated by 1 0 and the bottom by 11. cludes a central flatsheet-metal portion 12 supported by an' annular open-bottom pontoon 13projecting above the plane of the central sheetmetal portion 12. Theouter edge of the pontoon The roof as here shown in- 13 is provided witha depending rim 14 extending` below thev plane of the centralsheet-metal lportion 12.

Any suitable sealing means may be employed' for sealing or closing thespa `e 15 between the 'periphery of the roof and the shell 10 of the 60`tank. Many varietiesof such sealing means are now well known in the artand consequently none need be described in detail here. It will sufce tosay that such sealing means may include -a plurality of shoes or plates16 supported from the 65 edge of the roof by suitable means, forexample, the angular bar 1'7 held at the upper ends of the pivotedlevers 18-18. Springs 19 may be employed for yieldingly urging the shoes16 outwardly into contact with the shell of the tank. 20 may indicate aflexible seal, for example, fabric, for sealing the space between theshoes and the 'upper outer edge of the pontoon 13; and similar fabric(not shown) may be employed for sealing the spaces' between the verticaledgesof the 75 shoes 16.

Since the pontoon 13 projects above the plane of the central portion 12,it forms an upstanding rim 21 at the outer edge of the central circularsheet 12, which rim may be employed to retain water, for example rainwater, on top of the central portion 12. This water may serve toinsulate the roof and assist in keeping the fabric or liquid under thesame cool. Since the pontoon extends, above the plane of the sheetportion l2, it will be seen that such pontoon will impart buoyancy tothe roof even after the sheet metal portion 12 is submerged. If desired,the roof may have, enough buoyancy so that even if the central portionis entirely lled with rain water up to the level of the top of thepontoon, 13, the roof will still iloat provided the space in the pontoonabove the plane of the central portion 12 (extended) remainssubstantially lled with gas.

It will be seen that'by extending the outer rim 95 14 of the pontoonbelow the level of the plane (extended) of the central portion 12, thereis provided a gas-receiving space under the entireroof. That is, gasescan collect and will be retained not only in the pontoon but also .underthe central sheet-metal portion 12. There may, however, be such a smallamount of gas that it, will all be in the upper part of therannularpontoon, in which case the central sheet-metal portion 12 will rest incontact with the liquid.

' The form of device shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is substantially the same asdescribed except that I have provided on the under side of the roofradial partitions or bulkheads 122. As here shown, there are eight ofthese partitions radiatl1(` the outer edge of the pontoon. In the formof Y ing from the center 123. The lower edges of these partitions areeven with the lower edge of the depending rim 114 at the periphery ofthe roof. In this form the central sheet-metal portion of the roof isindicated by 112, the open-bottom pontoon by 113, and the upstanding rimformed by the pontoon at the periphery of the central part 112 isindicated by 121. It is to be understood that this roof is to be used inconnection with a tank as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with a suitable seal;and in other patents, not shown here, the roof of Figs. 3 and 4 isconstructed and operates substantially the same as the roof of Figs. 1and 2. In the form of device shown in Figs. 3 and 4, however, thepartitions 1 22 serve to assist somewhat in preventing an unevendistribution of gas under the roof. For example, if there is some gasunder the roof and the roof tips or tends to tip somewhat, the gas isprevented by the partitions 122 from all flowing around to one side.These partitions, therefore, in lessening the uneven distribution ofgas,

, increase the stability of the roof.

The form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has the outer .depending rim 14 or 114omitted. The shoes or other seal used are employed in the place of thisouter rim. In the form of Figs. 5 and 6, also, the rim corresponding tothe rim 121 at the inner periphery of the annular pontoon is extended,somewhat below the plane of the central sheetmetal portion.

Describing the form of Figs. 5 and 6 more particularly, the centralsheet-metal portion is indicated by 212, the annular open-bottom pontoonby 213, said pontoon projecting above the central sheet 212 to form theupstanding rim 221. There is no rim like 14 or 114 at the outer edge ofthe pontoon. Instead of this, the sealing shoes 216 together with thefabric seal 220 are employed to assist in retaining gases under theroof, the lower edges of the shoes extending considyerably below theplane (extended) of the central` sheet 212. The lower edges of the shoesare indicated by 216:1.. It is to be understood that the shoes 216 aresupported in' a manner similar to the way in which the shoes 16 of Figs.l and 2 are supported, and that the seal is substantially the same as isdescribed in connection with the device of Figs. 1 and 2; or any otherseal well known in the art may be employed.

In the form of Figs. 5 and 6 there is provided a downward extension ofthe rim 221, said extension or depending rim being indicated by 22111.In the form 'of Figs. 5 and 6 there are also provided radial partitionsor bulkheads 222 extending from the center 223 outwardly to thedepending rim 221e. e

In the form of Figs. 5 and 6 the shell of the tank is indicated by 210.

The form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is provided with depending rims at boththe outer and inner edges of the pontoon and is also provided withbulkheads extending radially from the center .to

Figs. 'l and.8 the central sheet portion is indicated by 312 and theopen-bottom pontoon by 313. The depending rim at the outer edge of thepontoon is indicated by 314 and at the inner edge ofY the pontoon thereis provided a depending rim 321a similar to the rim 221a of the deviceof Figs. 5 and 6. The pontoon 313 forms an upstanding rim at theperiphery of the sheet 312 as indicated by 321.

The roof of Figs. 'I vand 8 is provided with radial depending partitionsor bulkheads extending from all novelty inherent in my invention asbroadly V as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A floating roof comprising, a substantially flat central portion ofsubstantial proportion, said portion having an upstanding peripheralwall constituting a portion of an open-bottom annular pontoon, saidupstanding wall having connected thereto a downwardly extendinglannular-like member constituting another portion of said pontoon.

2. A floating roof as claimed in claim 1, in which the downwardlyextending annular-like member extends below the plane of the flatcentral portion. f

3. A floating roof as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner edge of thepontoon is provided with a depending rim extending below the plane ofthe flat central portion.

4. A oating roof as claimed in claim 1, in which the downwardlyextending annular-like member extends below the plane of the flatcentral portion and in which the inner edge of the pontoon is providedwith a dependingrim extending below the plane `of the iiat centralportion.'

5.V A oating roof as claimed in claim 1, with depending partitions onits underside forming separate open-bottom gas-receiving spaces underthe roof, said partitions serving to lessen an uneven distribution ofgases under the roof.

6. A floating roof as claimed in claim 1, with depending radialpartitions on its underside forming separate open-bottom gas-receivingspaces under the'roof, said partitions serving to lessen an unevendistribution of gases under the roof. I

7. A iloating roof as claimed in claim l, with depending partitions onthe underside of the nat central portion forming separate open-bottomgas-receiving spaces under said flat central portion, said partitionsserving to lessen an uneven distribution of gases under said at centralportion.

8. A :floating roof as claimed in claim l, with depending radialpartitions on the underside of the flat central portion forming-separate openbottom gas-receiving spaces under said nat-centralportion, said partitions serving to lessen an uneven distribution ofgases under said nat cen- 1o. A floating roof as claimed in anim 1, withdepending radial partitions in the pontoon forming separate open-bottomgas-receiving spaces in said pontoon, said partitions serving to lessenan uneven distribution of gases in aid pontoon.V

HARRY o BoARDMAN.

